Not As Different As They Thought

Chapter 2

Riley's POV

I knocked on the door.

It immediately opened and the first thing I saw was the very smiley Beck Addams.

Ugh. I'm never gonna survive this.

'Hi, come in.'

I walked in and kicked my shoes off where I saw theirs by the door. And almost immediately, two more very smiley people came over to me. Obviously they were his parents because he looks exactly like both of them, and his mom started to both sign and verbally talk to me.

"Welcome to our house Riley, I hope you'll make yourself feel at home."

I just smiled a little and nodded.

Beck signed besides me, 'He isn't a big talker. Or signer. '

His parents nodded "That's okay. Would you like a snack while you boys work?"

I shook my head and his parents smiled, "Well I'm Laney, and this is Stuart. So if you need anything, just ask us. Or Beck, of course."

I nodded and signed 'Thanks.'

'Should we go to my room? My computer is in there.' Beck signed.

I mentally sighed and nodded.

I followed him up the stairs and down the hall a ways until he opened a door for me and I walked into his room.

It's average bedroom size and the walls are painted blue, and he has a bed.. and a dresser.. and a tv. And basic bedroom things.

He went over to his computer and logged onto it and turned around to me.

'What should we do? A website or a powerpoint?'

I already knew my answer, but I hesitated because I hate using asl this much in one day.

'Powerpoint.'

'Okay'

He set up a PowerPoint and sent it to my email so I could work on it too. 'What should the layout be?'

I sighed, 'I want to work with you as little as possible. So we should just make a couple slides on our condition or whatever, and later do a couple on how asl brings them together or whatever the hell the teacher said.'

He thought for a minute, 'But this is a partner project for a reason.'

'Yeah, well how much do you know about mute people? I know I'm not an expert on deaf people. I rarely use asl anyways.'

He smirked a little, 'Yet you're fluent.'

I rolled my eyes, 'Whatever.'

'You can try to be as difficult and closed off as you want, but we're working on this together. This is an opportunity to learn more about each other and our conditions or whatever.. as you put it.'

I didn't reply. I just sat on his bed as he started labeling slides.

This is gonna be a long couple of weeks.

***

'So should we discuss how you became mute and how I became deaf?'

I paused. Images of when I was 14 popped into my head. It was dark and cold. And I was starving. No one would help me. I was screaming..

Beck waved his hand in front of my face, 'You okay Riley?'

I let out the air I didn't know I was holding in and I nodded, 'Yeah.. we shouldn't explain how we became deaf and mute..'

He nodded, still looking at me concerned, 'Okay.'

'I should go. It's getting late.'

He looked at his watched and it only said 5, but he nodded anyways.

We walked down the stairs and I put my shoes on and we said goodbye and I drove home.

As soon as I got inside I saw my sister at the dinner table. Me and her have a difficult relationship. Let's just say she's part of the reason I'm mute and the whole reason my math teacher is out to get me.

"Hey."

I just stared at her while standing in the door. I don't like going closer than 10 feet. But I stayed there to be safe.

"It's been 2 years Riley."

I nodded.

"You're still not over it?"

'You try getting over being kidnapped and starved for a week, bitch.'

I know she knows asl. She learned it right away as a way to make peace with me. It didn't work. I rarely say anything to her.

With that I walked to my room and locked the door behind me.

I don't feel like thinking about how I became mute, but I'm fine with remembering why she made my teacher hate me and hating her back for it.

(Quick Author's Note// Sorry but there's a bit of graphic and/or sexual language in the upcoming paragraph. Haha oops.)

She masturbated a lot in class, everyone knew except Mr. Vear. He never paid attention and that's why she did it. But one day she decided to give the kid next to her a blowjob, and the kid was a little too excited about it. He made lots of noise and got her suspended for a week. She's no longer in Mr. Vear's class. And now he thinks that I'm gonna mess with a girl seated anywhere around me.

Sorry dude but I'm not a sex addict like her.

*bang bang*

I groaned mentally and flopped back on my bed.

*bang*

Ugh.

"You're not deaf, I know you can hear me. Mom's home and wants to see you."

I still didn't move.

"There's some nerdy guy from school with her too."

I sat straight up and ran out of my room, past Rachel, and down the stairs.

I stopped in my tracks when I saw my mom and Beck sitting at the dining room table, talking in asl.

My mom looked over at me, "Oh hi honey! Beck here arrived just as I did, he says you forgot your bag at his house."

Beck stood up and handed me my heavy plain black bag. 'Thanks.'

He smiled, but still had a worried look on his face, 'No problem.'

I hate when people feel bad for me. I got enough of that in freshman year.

'K bye.'

"Riley! How rude, he drove all this way to return your backpack and all you can say is bye?"

'I said thank you.'

Beck tapped my mom's shoulder, 'It's okay Mrs. King, I should be going anyways.'

'Oh okay dear, it was nice meeting you.'

'You too. Have a nice night.'

My mom smiled and waved at him and he waved back at both of us and walked out the door.

He's way too nice. I swear to god.